Chapter
24
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LAST THINGS
The
study of last things is known as Eschatology.
Man
has an insatiable curiosity about the future.
This
teaching will help us understand what the future holds.
All
of us face the future and the inevitable experience
of death.
The
fact of death.
Hebrews
9:27
"And
as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this
the judgment:"
Death
is certain and Solomon reflects on the physical body
of man that will be buried and experience decomposition.
Ecclesiastes
3:18-20
"For
that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts;
as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have
all one breath; All go unto one place; all are of the
dust, and all turn to dust again."
There
are three aspects of death that we need to consider:
1.
Death is inevitable.
All
men will die and from birth every person experiences
the systematic and constant decay of the body.
Our
body ages.
Our
teeth decay.
Our
hair changes color and baldness sets in.
Our
skin ages and wrinkles.
Body
organs malfunction.
Finally
the whole body collapses.
2
Corinthians 5:1-4
"For
we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle
were dissolved, we have a building of God,
For
in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon
with our house which is from heaven:
For
we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened:"
2.
The uncertainty of the time of death.
We
do not know when we will die but death is an appointment
that all will keep.
Hebrews
9:27
"And
as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this
the judgment:"
Each
person faces the reality of passing through the door of
death alone. We pass through it naked and leave all
our possessions and loved ones behind. On the other
side of the door of death is eternity.
For
most people eternity is uncertain.
3.
Death is necessary.
It
is a necessary law of nature that everyone must experience.
In
death three things happen to man:
1.
The Body of man returns to dust.
2.
The Soul of man appears before God in Judgment.
3.
The Spirit of man returns to God.
Ecclesiastes
12:7
"And
the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."
The
righteous and the wicked are separated after death.
They
go to different destinations.
Jesus
told this true story about a rich man and a beggar who
died.
Luke
16:19-26
"There
was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple
and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And
there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was
laid at his gate, full of sores,
And
it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried
by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also
died, and was buried: And in hell he lift up his eyes,
being in torments,
And
he cried and said, Father Abraham have mercy on me,
for I am tormented in this flame.
But
Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime
receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil
things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
And
beside all this, between us and you there is a great
gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence
to you cannot:"
The
destiny of a Christian after death.
Here
is an example of the death of a Christian:
Acts
7:59-60
"And
they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit.
And
he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice; Lord lay
not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this,
he fell asleep."
Paul
assures us that at death Christians immediately go to
be with the Lord.
2
Corinthians 5:8
"We
are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent
from the body, and to be present with the Lord."
When
the spirit of a Christian leaves their body at death,
their Soul is ushered into the Presence of God.
Death
is a blessed experience to Christians:
Philippians
1:21
"For
to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Christians
are given a wonderful promise about the resurrection
of their body.
1
Corinthians 15:51-52
"Behold,
I shew you a mystery; we shall all be changed, at the
last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead
shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Christians
are promised victory over death, immortality and incorruption:
1
Corinthians 15:53-54
"For
this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this
mortal must put on immortality.
So
when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption,
and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then
shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,
Death is swallowed up in victory."
Martha
referred to this resurrection when she spoke to Jesus
about Lazarus her brother.
John
11:24
"Martha
saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the
resurrection at the last day."
Jesus
is the key to a Christians victorious Resurrection.
John
11:25
"Jesus
said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:
he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall
he live:"
When
resurrected, every part of our decomposed body will
be reassembled and glorified in a heavenly body.
2
Corinthians 5:1
"For
we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle
were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house
not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
Philippians
3:21
"Who
shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned
like unto his glorious body."
Jesus
appeared to the Disciples in His glorified Body. His
intangible body could pass though closed doors as if
invisible, yet it could be touched and eat food.
Luke
24:36-43
"And
as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst
of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Behold
my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me,
and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye
see me have. And they gave him a piece of a broiled
fish, and of an honeycomb.
And
he took it, and did eat before them."
How
wonderful it is for Christians to face the future with
this hope, security and no fear of death.
1
Corinthians 15:55-57
"O
death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
But
thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ."
At
death Christians:
Leave
their Earthly Body and it is buried.
Occupy
their Heavenly Body in the glorious presence of Almighty
God.
Take
up residence in a Mansion that Jesus has prepared for
them:
John
14:1-3
"Let
not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe
also in me.
In
my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not
so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for
you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again, and receive you unto myself; that where
I am, there ye may be also."
There
are two kinds of resurrections:
1.
Christians experience the resurrection unto life.
2.
Non-Christians experience the resurrection unto condemnation.
John
5:28-29
"Marvel
not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all
that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And
shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil,
unto the resurrection of damnation."
The
best resurrection is that experienced by Christians.
Hebrew
11:35
"That
they might obtain a better resurrection:"
The time of the resurrections:
Paul reveals that the resurrection of the Saints will take place at the
sounding of the last trumpet when Jesus Christ returns
for them.
It will precede the "catching away" of the Saints at Christ's coming.
1
Corinthians 15:52
"In
a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
John
reveals that the resurrection of all Non-Christians
will take place at the White Throne Judgment.
Revelation
20:11-12
"And
I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it,
from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away;
and there was found no place for them.
And
I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and
the books were opened:"
The
Return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus
said five things about His Coming:
1.
He promised that after His ascension into Heaven, He
would return again.
John
14:3
"And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also."
2.
He said His coming would be quick and unexpected.
Matthew
24:27
"For
as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth
even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the
Son of man be."
3.
He said that not all will be caught up with Him when
He comes.
Matthew
24:39-42
"So
shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Then
shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and
the other left.
Watch
therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth
come."
4.
He warned that only those ready for His coming would
become His Bride and enter His marriage feast.
Matthew
25:10-13
"The
bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with
him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward
came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open
to us.
But
he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know
you not.
Watch
therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour
wherein the Son of man cometh."
5. Jesus gives nine signs in Matthew 24 that would indicate
that His coming is near.
1.
Wars.
2.
Famines.
3.
Viruses and diseases.
4.
Earthquakes.
5.
Persecution of Christians.
6.
False Prophets.
7.
Sin abounding everywhere.
8.
World Evangelism.
9.
The rise of the Anti-Christ.
The
two Men clothed in white also promised that Jesus would
return:
Acts
1:10
"Behold,
two men stood by them in white apparel;
Which
also said; Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up
into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from
you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye
have seen him go into heaven."
Paul
describes this future event.
1
Thessalonians 4:16-17
"For
the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump
of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then
we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
2
Thessalonians 1:7
"And
to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord
Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty
angels,"
1
Corinthians 15:51-52
"Behold,
I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we
shall all be changed,
In
a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible."
Paul
warns that before Jesus comes, three things will happen:
1.
The Church will experience a spiritual falling away.
2.
The Anti-christ will be revealed.
3.
The Last Trumpet will sound.
2
Thessalonians 2:3
"Let
no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall
not come, except there come a falling away first, and
that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"
1
Corinthians 15:52
"In
a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
The
Church is the Bride of Christ and will be prepared and
adorned for His coming.
Revelation
21:2
"Coming
down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned
for her husband."
Paul
describes the wonderful relationship that exists between
Jesus Christ and the Church.
Ephesians
5:25-27
"Even
as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for
it;
That
he might present it to himself a glorious church."
John
describes this glorious future event.
Revelations
19:7- 9
"Let
us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for
the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath
made herself ready.
And
to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine
linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness
of saints.
And
he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are
called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb."
John
describes the magnificent procession of Jesus Christ
and His Bride coming from the Heavens back to the Earth.
Revelation
19:11-16
"And
I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he
that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and
in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
His
eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many
crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew,
but he himself.
And
he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his
name is called The Word of God.
And
the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white
horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
And
out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword.
And
he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,
KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
The
Return or Coming of Jesus Christ has two parts:
1.
The catching away of the Saints, referred to as the
"Rapture."
2.
The triumphant return of Christ and the saints to the
earth for His Millennial Reign.
Zechariah
14:3-4
"Then
shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations,
as when he fought in the day of battle.
And
his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives,
which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount
of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the
east and toward the west."
Zechariah
describes the reaction of the Jews when they see and
recognize Jesus as their Messiah.
Zechariah
12:10
"And
they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and
they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only
son."
The
Second Coming of Christ has five purposes:
1.
Christ will come to catch away His Church.
2.
He will come to save the Jews.
3.
He will overthrow and punish satan, the anti-christ
and the false-
>prophet.
4.
He will Judge the Nations.
5.
He will establish His Millennial Kingdom on earth.
John
gives a promise to those who are martyred during the
tribulation for their faithfulness to Jesus Christ.
Revelation
20:4
"And
I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment
was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that
were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the
word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast,
neither his image, neither had received his mark upon
their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and
reigned with Christ a thousand years."
At
the end of the Millennial Reign of Christ the White
Throne Judgment will take place.
Revelation
20:11-15
"And
I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it,
from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away;
and there was found no place for them.
And
I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and
the books were opened: and another book was opened,
which is the book of life: and the dead were judged
out of those things which were written in the books,
according to their works.
And
the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death
and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and
they were judged every man according to their works.
And
death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This
is the second death.
And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life
was cast into the lake of fire."
There
are three aspects to consider about this Judgment:
1.
God is the Judge.
Hebrews
12:22-23
"But
ye are come ...to God the Judge of all."
2.
There are four principles of Judgment:
1. It will be according to
Truth.
2. The Works of men will be
judged.
3. It will be Impartial.
4. It will be according to
the Light men received.
Romans
2:2
"But
we are sure that the judgment of God is according to
truth against them which commit such things."
Romans
2:6
"Who
will render to every man according to his deeds:"
Romans
2:11
"For
there is no respect of persons with God."
Romans
1:20
"For
the invisible things of him from the creation of the
world are clearly seen, being understood by the things
that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so
that they are without excuse:"
Romans
2:12
"For
as many as have sinned without law shall also perish
without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall
be judged by the law;"
3.
There are three Judgments.
1. The Judgment Seat of Christ
where the Saints are judged.
2. The Great White Throne Judgment.
3. The Judgment of the Fallen
Angels.
Christians
will be judged and rewarded at the Judgment Seat of
Christ and not be judged with the sinners of the world.
2
Corinthians 5:10
"For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;
that every one may receive the things done in his body,
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or
bad."
1
Corinthians 11:32
But
when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that
we should not be condemned with the world."
Fallen
angels are preserved for their own judgment.
2
Peter 2:4
"For
if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them
down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness,
to be reserved unto judgment;"
Let us be thankful
to God for revealing the details of eschatology to us.
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